Cannons Edge Outlaws in Fourth of July Shootout

DENVER —The fireworks started long before the final whistle at Sports Authority Field as the Boston Cannons (5-5) edged out the Denver Outlaws (7-3), 17-13, in an offensive explosion.

Denver cut Boston’s lead to one late in the third quarter, but five fourth-quarter goals by the Cannons help them escape with the win.

The two teams traded off goals for the majority of the game. Zack Greer got the Outlaws on the board first with the first goal of his season less than a minute into the contest, and just minutes later Boston’s Rob Emery evened the score. Emery finished with four goals on the night.

Denver scored the next goal when Eric Law found twine for the 50th goal of his career. Then the Cannons scored twice, and the Outlaws followed suite, responding with back-to-back goals of their own. Law scored on an acrobatic put in that was originally ruled no goal before being overturned following a challenge, and John Grant Jr. sniped in a behind-the-back goal.

Boston took their turn next, as Will Manny scored two goals to close the quarter with the Cannons up, 5-4.

Jeremy Sieverts got into the action in the second frame, scoring two quick goals to put Denver up, 6-5. His first goal moved him into fifth place in Outlaws’ history for all-time points with 112.

The Cannons didn’t let up though and finished the quarter on a 3-0 run, sending them to the locker room with an 8-6 advantage.

Sieverts started the third quarter like he did the second, finding twine early to get a hat trick. The two teams then traded off goals for the remainder of the quarter. Greer and Law scored just two minutes apart at the end of the frame to give them both a hat trick on the night, and tie the game at 11-11. For Law, it’s his eighth hat trick of the season. But after a late Boston goal, the teams headed to the final quarter with the Cannons up, 12-11.

Law scored his fourth goal of the game in the fourth quarter and Terry Kimener put one in late, but five goals from Boston in the final frame helped them seal the deal, 17-13.

It’s the first time in 762 days that the Outlaws have lost at home. The last time Denver lost back-to-back games was in June of 2012 when it dropped contests on May 19 and June 12.

The Outlaws return to action at home against the Florida Launch on Sunday, July 20, at 1:00 p.m. MDT.

Game Notes:

· 29,718 fans came through the turnstiles for the game, marking the largest MLL crowd this season. A total of 219,324 fans have shown up for the nine Outlaws Independence Day games to date.

· Eric Law recorded his 50th career goal five minutes into the first quarter. The second-year player finished the night with four goals and one assist, marking his seventh hat trick on the season.

· Zack Greer notched his first goal of the season. Greer, who missed the first eight games due to an injury he sustained during the NLL season, finished the night with three goals and one assist.

· Jeremy Sieverts second-quarter goal moved him into sole possession of fifth place for most points in team history. Sieverts finished the night with three goals and one assist, for a total of 115 points as an Outlaw.

· It was the team’s first home regular-season loss in 762 days. The last time they lost at home was June 2, 2012 when they lost to the Chesapeake Bayhawks 18-16.